Mats Sundin has not signed with the Montreal Canadiens, but the player that was rumoured to be compensation to the Leafs if he did has actually come to Toronto via a trade.

The Leafs have acquired centre Mikhail Grabovski from Montreal for prospect Greg Pateryn, who was selected in the fifth round of this year's draft, and a second-round pick in 2010. July 3, 2008

By:Mark ZwolisnkiSports Reporter, Published on Thu Jul 03 2008

Mats Sundin has not signed with the Montreal Canadiens, but the player that was rumoured to be compensation to the Leafs if he did has actually come to Toronto via a trade.

Mikhail Grabovski became a Leaf yesterday as GM Cliff Fletcher turned a rare trade with the rival Canadiens, sending recent draft pick Greg Pateryn and a second-round selection in 2010 to Montreal.

"Mikhail had tremendous success at the most recent World Hockey Championship (for Belarus)," Cliff Fletcher said in a statement. "He has great upside and we will look for him to contribute for us right away at the centre position."

Grabovski, 24, gives the Leafs a much-needed centre now that Sundin is on hold with his career, and not likely to sign anywhere for at least a month.

Grabovski played 27 games in the NHL last season with Montreal, and posted three goals and six assists. He was believed to be the player the Leafs were to receive as compensation if Sundin signed with Montreal.

Fletcher remains active in the free-agent market, and is still seeking a centre and possibly a defenseman to bolster the Leafs lineup.

Current rumours have the Leafs as one of several teams interested in Vancouver free-agent centre Brendan Morrison. It's also expected Fletcher will land former Leaf Joe Nieuwendyk as director of player personnel in the coming days.

There's also a growing belief in the hockey world that Sundin will return to the Leafs. He turned down a two-year, $20 million offer from Vancouver, and is also believed to have been courted by as many as five teams, including Montreal and the Rangers.

The longer he holds out, though, the less likely those teams are to be interested in signing him. The Leafs, who offered him a one-year, $7 million contract last month, have left the door open for his return.

Meanwhile, Pateryn, 18, was drafted in the fifth round, 128th overall, by the Leafs last month in Ottawa. Last season in the United States Hockey League, Pateryn led all Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets defensemen with 27 points (3-24) in 60 games. He also led his team with 145 penalty minutes.

The Maple Leafs also signed forward Dominic Moore, 27, to a one-year deal. Centre John Mitchell, 23, signed a two-year contract and winger Greg Scott, 20, signed a three-year entry-level contract.

With files from the Canadian Press

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